Interlacing machine



Feb. 9 1926. 1,572,220

G. W. MUDD INTERLACING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iwanfor:

Feb. 9 1926; 1,572,220

' G. w. MUDD INTERLACING MACHINE OV- 1924 4Shcets-Sheet 2 cantor Feb. 9 1926.

e. w. MUDD INTERLAGING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 24, 1924 Even/i07 Garzwizf/ wctoL Feb. 9 1926. 1,572,220

G. W. MUDD INTERLACING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7g z/y 66 Mimi tion.

of the objects of the invention is to in position to be operated upon by .to be operated upon by the needles may be Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GARRETT, W. MUDD, OI" CHICAGO, ILLINOIS;

INTERLACING maomnn.

Application filed November 24, 1924. Serial No. 752,044.

To. all whom it may concern: Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing Be. it known that I, GARRETT W. Moon, :1 the path of movement of the needle.

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ings the numeral 10-designates generally a of Illinois, have invented certain new and sup orting structure of any desired size and useful Improvements in Interlacing Macon chines, of which the following is a specifica- Extending above the structure 10 is a superstructure. embodying .end walls 11 and 12 This invention relates to improvements in and a back wall 13, which'latter terminates interlacing machines for fibrous materials, particularly adapted though not necessarily.

I structure and may be of an imperforate limited in its iise for curled hair,

provide tion as desired and according to the operaan improved machine of this character in tion to be performed inthe machine. which the material fed into the machine A front plate or member 14 is arranged will be gradually compressed as it arrives in the superstructure and constitutes the the front of ahopper. This plate or member needles. 14 is preferably transparent and is con- 'A further object is to provide improved structed of glass mounted in I a suitable means whereby the density of the material frame. The plate thus formed is supported for movement towardand away. from the rear plate 13 in any desired or suitable man- A. further object; is to provide improved 11 pr ferably by lneans of bearings 15 and means whereby the osition of the needles 1 sllda le respectlvely in suitable guldeor the angle at whic the needles enter the y 17 and and e ngs 15 and 16 material to be interlaced may be varied, and re preferably located respectively adjacent improved means whereby the extent of the pp an IOWBIT edges of the plate 1 movement of the needles in the direction m m r ThBSB gs are g d of travel of the material may be varied at adjacent the end Walls 11 and 12 and may will. u be moved in their guideways in any desired To the attainment of these ends and the Suitable m nner, Such as by means of varied at will.

Referring more particularly to the draw- I guratlon and of any desired height.

preferably short of the base of the super 1 and one construction or of a perforated construcaccomplishment of. other new and useful Sprocket Wheels 193ml 20 threaded P objects as will appear, the invention cony P bars Pods 213116 22, Connec sists in the features of novelty in substanted SP LV with the ng 15 and tially the construction, combination and ar- 50 that as the respective Sprocket 15 rangement of the several parts hereinafter are rotated the beilrmgs 15 and 16.W111 b more fully described and claimed and shown mmed forwardly backwardly 111 v in the accompanying drawings illustrating guides according to the direction of rotation thi i nti nd i hi h of the sprocket wheels, the sprocket wheels Figure 1 is a viewin elevation taken from held against movementthe rods the left hand side of a machine of this 21 111 y Suitable annercharacter constructed in accordance with-"- The SPI'OQkQt Wheels may be rotated in the principles of this invention. any suitable manner such as by means of a Figure 2 i a vi w i l vatio t k f o sprocket chain 23, which passes over the the right hand side of Figure 1 and online" sprockets 19 and 20 and may if desired, pass' 2-2. over another or idle sprocket 24. An addi- Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional tional sprocket wheel 25 may also be proview, taken on line 33, Figure 2. vided over which the sprocket chain 23 Figure 4 is a detail, horiggrtal sectional passes, and a crank handle 26 may be conview taken on line 4'4, Figure'l, with parts omitted and parts broken away.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views illustrating the different steps and. the movement of the needle and the material.

nected with the sprocket wheel 25 for rowill rotate the sprockets 19 and 20 and the bearings 15 and 16 will be moved in their. respective guideways.

The adjustment of the plate or member 14 in this manner varies the size of the hopper into which the material to be interlaced may be fed in the usual manner.

It is customary in machines of this character to blow the material into the hopper and with the improved construction herein described the air, in the event that the back or plate 13 of the hopper is imperforate, will find its way through the top and bottom of the hopper. I

In the event that the plate 13 is erforated; the air will find its way out'of t e hopper through the plate 13.

A feeding and compressing mechanism is provided for the material adjacentthe bottom of the hopper and preferablybeneath the plate or member '14, so as togradually compress the material to the desired density by the time it is in position to be acted upon by the interlacing needles, to be hereinafter described. p

The feeding and compressing mechanism preferably consists of a plurality of endless flexible members 27 preferably in the form" of chains which pass over sprocket wheels 28 loosely mounted upon a shaft 29 and laterally spaced from each other-to any desired extent by any suitable means. The shaft 29 is preferably located adjacent the lower end of the plate or member 14 and is journaled in the bearings'16. The chains 27 also use over s rockets 30'connectedwith-a sha 31 journa ed in suitable bearings 32, adapted to move in suitable guideways. If desired.

,sition.

suitable belt tighteners 33, pivotally mount--- ed as at 34, may be provided for maintainingthe endless elements 27 tautand are adapted to operate preferably upon one of the runs of the endless elements 27, an elastic member or spring 35 being provided for holding the" belt tighteners yie dably in po- The bearings 32. in which the shaft 31 is journaled, are adapted to be moved for-- wandlyand backwardly in their guideways in any suitable manner but preferably in a manner similar to the manner in which the bearings 15 and 16 are moved in their guideways, that is by means of sprocket wheels 36- 37 threaded upon a bar or rod 38 connected with the respective bearings. A chain 39 passes over these sprockets 36 and 37 andalso preferably over another sprocket 40, a handle 41 being connected preferably with the sprocket40, which latter is mounted upon any suitable fixed portion of the superstructure, for rotating the sprocket and when rotated, the hain 39 will rotate'the sprockets 36 and 37 for movin the bearings 32 backwardly andforwardly in their guidewe s.

ith this improved construction it will ratchet gear 42 connectedwith thefshaft 31 j I for rotation therewith. An arm 43 is piv 'otally supported, preferably intermediate its ends, upon'the shaft 31 and carries a pawl 44 which co-operates with the ratchet gear 42. The other end of the arm 43 is provided with a plurality of openingsf45 by means of which the end of a rod 46.may be adjustably connected with the arm so as -to vary the rocking movement of the arm 43 aboutv its pivot and consequently the extent of the-step by-step or intermittent rotation of the ratchet gear 42. As this ratchet gear 42 is rotated the sprockets 30-will be correspondingly rotated to feed or move the endless flexible elements 27.

The otherlend'ofthe rod 46 is connected preferablyby means of. an eccentric strap 47 with an eccentric 48 secured to a shaft 49, and which shaftis rotated in any suitable manner referably by means of an endless flexible e ement-5O preferably in the form of a sprocket chain which passes over a suitable sprocket or pulley on the shaft 49. The element 50 also .passes over a pulley or sprocket wheel 51,. which has connected with it a pulley 52, which latter receives its motion from any suitable source, preferably 105 a motor (not shown) and through the medium of a driving belt or connection (not shown);

It will thus be seen that when the pulley 52 is rotated the shaft 49 will be corre- 1 -by impart an intermittent feeding movement to the endless flexible elements 27 Endless flexible elements 53 may be provided for assisting in feeding the material through the hopper and to the interlacing needles. These elements 53 may be of any desired construction and any suitable number may be employed, but are preferably of a cablelike formation and pass over suit- 'able drums or pulleys 54 at the top 'of the hopper and over a drum 55 and an idle drum or pulley 56. The elements 53 are so arranged that one of the runs thereof will pass through the hopper in a plane parallel with the back and with the face of the member or plate 14 and below the hopper v to-a point below the lower extremity of the flexible elements 27 and are adapted to stand in close proximity or rest against the rear wall 13 of'the hopper.- These elements 53 cooperate with the elements 27 for feeding the material.

The elements 53 are preferably given an intermittent movement in any suitable manner such as by means of a ratchet gear 57 connected with the shaft 58, to which the drum is connected An arm 59 is preferably pivotally supported intermediate its ends upon the end of the shaft 58 and carries a dog or pawl 60 which co-operates with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 57. The other end of the arm is provided with a plurality of openings 61, and by means of which openings one end of a rod 62 isadjustably connected with the arm so as to vary the extent of oscillating movement of the arm. The other end of the .arm 62 is connected preferably with the bar or rod 46 by means of a clip or collar 63 so that the arm 59 will be rocked by the bar or rod 46 through the medium of the bar or rod 62.

Vith this construction it will be manifest that any degree of intermittent movement maybe imparted to the elements 53 and 27, and if desired the extent of movement of these elements may be varied with respect 65 vided with a projecting portion 73 having a is in the general direction of feeding move- 7 to each other or their movement may be maintained uniform. I

Arranged in rear of. the hopper and preferably in rear of the plate 13 is a needle bar 64, having a plurality of needles 65 detachably connected thereto and secured in position by means of suitable fastening bolts 66.

The ends of the needle bar are journaled in rollers 67 and which rollers travel in guideways 68, andin which guideways the bearingsfor the shaft 31 also travel.

The rollers 67 are loosely mounted upon the ends of the needle bartl so that when the rollers are moved forwardly and backwardly in the guideways they will roll upon the walls of the guideways and advance and retract the needle bar 64, at the same time the needle bar is adapted for a rocking movement about the axes of the rollers.

The forward and backward movement of the needle bar may be accomplished through the medium of connecting rods 69, preferably one. on each end of the bar 64, and one .end of these rods 69 is pivotally connected to the bar. The other ends of the rods 69 are connected-with cranks 70 carried by a shaft 71 mounted in suitable bearings, and one of which cranks 70 may constitute a portion of the pulley 52.

An oscillating movement may be imparted to the needle bar 4. in any suitable manner but preferably from a cam 72, which is connected with the shaft 49 for rotation therewith. The needle bar is preferably prois used.

This member 7 9 projects for a considerable distance over and beyond the shaft 49 and is provided with an anti-friction. roller 81 against which the cam travels. The member 79 is provided with a number of openings 82 so that the end of the bar or rod 76.

may be adjustably connected thereto to "ary the position or the point of connection therewith with respect to the pivot and thereby control or Vary the extent of 0s cillating movement of the needle bar 64 about its pivots formed with theroller 671 It will thus be manifest that as the shaft 71 is rotated the needle bar will be reciprocated forwardly andbackwardly and as the cam'72 rotates the needle bar will be oscillated upwardly and downwardly through the medium of the member 79 and the connecting bar or rod 76.

Obviously .the parts operate in timed relation with respect to each other.

g It is sometimes desired to interlace the material 83 with a backing 84 (see particularly Figures 5 to 7), such as burlap or the like, and in that event the burlap may be fel from any suitable supply and in a direction downwardly through the topof the hopper.

'The' burlap may be used in connection with the endless members 53 or these members 53 may be removed when the 'burlap (Obviously any backing suitable for the purpose may be employed instead of burlap.) When the members 53 are used they will assist in advancing the burlap with the material being operatedupon but when the members 53 are not employed the burlap will be advanced by the operation of the needles 65 thereupon.v

The operation of the mechanism is as follows. Assuming the parts to be in the posi tion shown in Figure 3, that is with the needle b-arretracted the material will be.

fed through the hopper and will doe compressed as it advances or is positioned to be acted upon by the needles. The needles the needle from the full-line. position in.

Figure 5 to the dotted line position in Figure '5, the material 83' and the ,backing 84 will be advanced bylthe action of the tion shown in fulllines in Figure 6' the cam 72 will then operate toraise the needlev slightly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 6and in the. direction indicated by the line'D in: Figure 8. This step of .movement is given to the 'needle .so as to raise the end of the hook portion of the needle suificiently to permit it 'to pass through the opening formed-[in the backing 8 by the penetration of the needle. At the same time a portion of the material 83 will be drawn through the body of; the material and through the, opening-in the. backing 84,

and as shown at 86 inFigure 7 of the draw The movement of the needle 65 in lugs. withdrawing the needleand pulling the portion 86 of the material through the-opening in the backing 84.- is indicated by the lin'eIE in Figure 8.

The needle bar 64-is then j mm the its pivot by the cam 72-to raise the needle in a direction indicated by the line F in Figure 8, which is the limit of the rearward movement of the needle; This last step of-operation will disengage the needle from the portion 86. of the material which is pulled through the body .of the material and throughthe backing 84-, when the latter is employed- -;The operation of the needle and the paths of moi'ement' thereof are the samewhether the ,backing 8 4 is employed-or. not. lVith this improved construction it will be manifest thatithere will be provided a machine in which a mat or padof uniform thickness and densitymay be provided while the machine is adaptedto vary at will the density of the material atthe point at which it is being interlaced. The variations of the position bf the plate or member 14 will also provide for v a variation in thevolume of material "per square foot. "Furthermore the extent of the feeding movement of the backing 84 is controlled by the extent of the downward movement 01 the needles 65, and this extent of movement of the needles in turn may be varied by the adjustment or variation of the po-ints of connection of the ends of the bar or rod 7 6 with the needleba-r and the member 7 9.,

needle. After the needle assumes the posiresults by-reason of the fact that the hair plane.-

it has been inserted intothe material, the said-needle operating to assist in advancing hopper for the material, means for varying been inserted intothe material.

By the arrangement of the hopper. in a. vertical position" and by feeding the material vertically to the needles the material" will be fed by gravity and will not disintegrate and'settle away from the needles as would. be. the case if the material is fed horizontal- .y. Furthermore with the vertically arranged. hopperthe material, especially short hair, will fall so that it will la and pile in a position, while being'inter aced, that when the pad is completedthe 'haiI-swill vstand on end, thereby imparting greater resiliency to the pad. A further advantage bythe use of a vertically arranged hopper may be'interlaced ina loose-r condition and will not pack asiwhen fed in a horizontal Thilethe preferred "fornigof the invention hasbeen herein shownand described, it is to be. understood. that various changes may he made in the details of construction and ,in the combination' and anrangement of the several-parts, within the scopeof the claims,

.without departingfrom the'spirit of this invention, andif found necessary or desirableitis to be understood thatsuitable belt tighteners (not shown) may be employed in connection with the endless flexible. ele- :ments 53. 1 i

\Vhat is claimed-as new'is: n i 1. An interlacing machine. including a hopper for the materiahone wall of the hopper being adjustable :to vary the size of the hopper, means adjacent the outlet of the hopper for compressing the material de-' livered therefrom, a reciprocatingneedle, and means for moving-the said needle in the direction of feeding movement of the material after it has been insertedflinto the material; v 2. An interlacing machine including a hopper for the material, one wall of the hopper being adjustable to vary the size of the hopper, meansadjacent the out-let of the hopper for compressing the materialv delivered therefrom, a reciprocating needle, and means for moving the .said needle in the directionof feeding movement of the material after the material being operated upon. An mtcrlacing machlne 1 including the size of the hopper, means adjacent the outlet end of the hopper for gradually compressing the material delivered therefrom, neans for varying at will the degree of compression exerted by the last recited means, a reciprocating needle support, means for re ciprocating the needle supporhand means for rocking the needle support in a vertical plane and in the direction of feeding movement of the material after the needle has 6 4. An interlacing machine including a hopper for the material, means for varying ing at will the extent of said rocking movement of the needle support.

5. An lnterlacing machine including a hopper for the material, one wall of the hopper being transparent, means for adjusting one of the hopper walls with respect to the other walls to vary the size of the hopper, means adjacent the outlet of the'hopper for gradually compressing the material, a reciprocating needle bar, means for reciprocating the needle bar, and means for imparting a movement to the needle in the direction of the feeding movement of the material. I

6. An interlacing machine includinga hopper for. the material, one wall of the hopper being transparent, means for adjusting one of the hopper wallswith respect to the other walls to vary the size of the hopper, means adjacent the outlet of the hopper for gradually compressing the material, .areciprocating needle bar, means for reciproeating the needle bar, means for imparting a movement to the needle in the direction of feeding movement of the material, the said compressing means including an endless flexible element, and'means for 1mparting movement to the saidelement'.

7. An interlacing machine including a hopper for the material, one wall of the hopper being transparent, means for ad- 'justing one of the hopper walls with respect to the other walls to vary the size of the hopper, means adjacent the outlet of the hopper for gradually compressing the material, a reciprocating needle bar, means for reciprocating the needle bar, means for imparting a movement to the needle inthe direction of feeding movement of the material, the said compressing means including an endless flexible element, means for impart ing intermittent movement to, the element, and means whereby the extent of the movements of the said element may be varied.

8. Ali interlacing machine including a hopper for the material, one wall of the hopper being transparent, means for adjusting one of the hopper Walls with respect to the other walls to vary the size-of the hopper, means adjacent the outlet of the hopper for gradually compressing the material, a reciprocating needle bar, means for reciprocating t eneed e ba means for imparting a movement to the needle in the direction of feeding movement of the material, the said compressing. means including an endless'flexible element, means for imparting movement to the said element, and means for varying at will the position of the said element with respect to the parts co-operating therewith to vary the degree of compression exerted thereby.

9. An interlacing machine including a hopper for the. material, means adjacent the outlet of the ho. per for compressing the material-delivered therefrom, a reciprocating needle bar, means for reciprocating the needle bar, means formimpartmg a movement to the needle in-thedirection of feeding movement of the material, and means operating to'asslst- 1n feedlng the material through the hopper and to the said com pressing means.

- 10. An interlacing machine including a;

hopper for the material, means adjacent'the outlet offthe hop er for compressing the material delivered 1; erefrom, areciproc-ating needle bar, means for reciprocating the needle bar, means for imparting amovement to the needle in the direction of feeding movement ofthe material, means ,operating to assist in feeding the material through the hopper and to the saidcompressing means, and means for imparting an intermittent movement'to the stud feeding means.

11. An interlacing machine including a hopper for the material, means adjacentthe outlet of the hopper for compressing the material delivered therefrom, a .reciprocat:

ing needle bar, means for reciprocating the needle bar, means for imparting a movement to the needle in the direction of feeding ating to assist in feeding movement of the material, and means operthe materialthrough the hopper and to the said compressing means, the said feeding means ineluding an element'traveling through the hopper.

12. An interlacing machine including a hopper for the material, means adjacent the outlet of the be per for compressing the material delivered therefrom," a reciprocating needle bar, means for reciproeatmg the needle bar, means, for imparting'a movement to the needle in the direction of feeding movement of the material, means operating to assist in feeding the material through the hopper and to the said compressing means, the said feeding means including an endless flexible element traveling through the hopper, and means for imparting 1 an intermittent movement to the said element.

13.An interlacing machine including a hopper for the material, means adjacent the outlet of the hopper for compressing the material delivered therefrom, a reciprocat- Gil . ating, 'to -assist in feeding the material through the hopper and to the said compressing means, the said means including any endless flexible element traveling through the hopper, and means for imparting an intermitten't movement to said element, the last recited means including means whereby the extent of the movements of the said element may be varied.

14. An interlacing machine including a hopper for the material, one wall of the hopper being adjustable, means for adjusting said wall to vary the volume of the material to be operated upon, the wall opposite the adjustable wall extending beyond the end of the latter, an endless flexible element forming a continuation of the said adjustable wall, means for actuating the said element, a reciprocating needle bar, means for reciprocating the bar to cause the needle carried thereby to penetrate the material and to be withdrawn therefrom, and means for imparting a movement to the needle in the direction of feeding movement of the material and while the needle is operating upon the work. 7

15. An interlacing machine including a hopper for thematerial, one Wall of the hopper being adjustable, means for adjusting said wall to vary the volume of the 5 material to be operated upon, the wall opposite the adjustable wall extending beyond the end of the latter, an endless flexible elem'ent forming a continuation of the said adjustable wall, means for actuating the said element, a reciprocating needle bar, means for reciprocating the bar to cause the needle carried thereby to penetrate the material and to be withdrawn therefrom, means for imparting a movement to the needle in the direction of feeding movement of thevmate- "rial and while the needle is operating upon posite the adjustable wall extending beyond the end of the latter, and endless flexible element'fform ing a continuation ofthe said adjustable -wall, means for actuating the said element, a reciprocating needle bar, means for reciprocating the bar to cause the needle carried thereby to penetrate the 'material and to be withdrawntherefrom,

means for imparting a movement to the needle in the direction of feeding movement ofthe material and while the needle is opcrating upon the work,'and means for adforming a continuation of the said adjustable wall, means for actuating the said element, a reciprocating needlebar, means for reciprocating thebar to cause the needle carried thereby to penetrate the material and to be withdrawn therefrom, means for imparting a movement to the needle in the direction of feeding movement of 'the material and while the needle is operating upon the work, and means for bodily adjusting the said element in directions transverse to the direction of eeding movement of the matelrial to vary the compression of the materia 18. An interlacing machine including a' hopper for the material, one wall of the hopper being adjustable, means for adjusting said wall to vary the volume of the material to be operated upon, the wall opposite the adjustable wall extending beyond the end of the latter, an endless flexible element forming a continuation of the said adjustable wall, means for actuating the said element, a reciprocating needle bar, means for reciprocating the bar to cause the needle carried thereby to penetrate the material and to be withdrawn therefrom, means for imparting a movementto the needle in the direction of feeding movement of the material and whilethe needle is operating upon the work, and meansfor assisting in feeding the material through the hopper.

19. An interlacing machine including a hopper for the material, one wall of the hop per being adjustable, means for adjusting said wall to vary the volume of the material to be operated upon, the wall opposite the adjustable wall extending beyond the end of the latter, an endless flexible element forming a continuation of the said adjustable wall, means for actuating the said element, a

red rocatin needle bar means for reci rocatin the bar to cause the needle carried there y to penetrate the material and-to be withdrawn therefrom, means for imparting a movement to the needle in the direction of feeding movement of the material and while the needle is operating upon the work, an endless flexible traveling element through the hopper for assisting in feeding the material, and means for imparting an intermitttent movement to the last recited elemen 20. An interlacing machine including means for supplying the material, means for compressing the material, a backing adaptneedle in directions transverse to the direced to travel-with the material, a reciprocating needle, means. for reciprocating the needle in directions transverse to the direc-' tion of feeding movement of the material to penetrate the said backing and the material and to Withdraw the needle, and means for imparting to the needle during the time that the needle is operating upon the material, a movement in the direction of the feeding movement of the material, during a portion of the interlacing operation, said needle during the last recited movement operating upon the said-backing to advance the latter with the material. 7 I

21. An interlacing machine including means for supplying the material, means for compressing the material, a hacking adapt ed to travel with the material, a reciprocating needle, means for reciprocating the tion of feeding movement of the material to penetrate the said backing and the material and to withdraw the needle, means for imparting to the needle during the time that the needle is operating upon the material, a movement in the direction of the feeding movement of the material, during a portion of the'interlacing operation, said needle during the last recited movement operating upon. the said backing to advance.

the latter with the material, andmeans whereby the extent ofthe last recited movement of the needle may be varied.

22. An interlacing machine including means for supplying the material, means for compressing the material, a backing adapted to travel with the material, a reciprocating needle, means for reciprocating the needle 1n directions transverse to the dlrectioli -of feeding movement of'the material .to penetrate the-said backing andthe mareciprocating needle, means for reciprocat ing' the needle, the said means including mechanism for successively moving the n edle in a direction transverse to and also in the direction of feeding movement of the material, and means for feeding the material to the needle in a vertical plane.

2-1. An interlacing machine including a vertically arranged hopper for the material, the material being fed from the hopper in a vertical plane, a needle, and means including mechanism for reciprocating the needle in a plane transverse to and also in the di-' rection of the feeding plane of the material.

25. 'An interlacing machine including a vertically arranged hopper for the'material, the material being fed from the hopper in a vertical plane, a needle, and means for imparting to the needle a movement in the directionof feeding movement of the material during the interlacing operation.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 12th day of November, A. D. 1924.

GARRETT W. MtfDD. 

